History

The Graduate Committees of both SIUE and SIUC s Departments of History will review the applications submitted to their respective universities. Upon joint acceptance by the two departments, applicants will be referred to each university s respective Graduate Schools for final admission. Students will enter SIUE as unclassified graduate students and will enter SIUC as classified graduate students in history.

Admission to the program will be granted by SIUC.

Curriculum

The doctoral program requires a minimum of 24 semester hours of coursework and 24 hours of dissertation research. The coursework is to be comprised of program requirements and elective course requirements.

Following completion of coursework, students must pass comprehensive field examinations and an oral defense of their dissertation prospectus before being advanced to candidacy. Completion of the PhD also requires an oral defense of the dissertation. Exam and dissertation committees will be comprised of faculty from both SIUE and SIUC.

Core requirements

Students will complete six to eight hours in Historiography/Methodology and Historical Research.

Elective Requirements

Minimum of 16 additional hours of coursework at the 400- or 500-level to provide substantial depth in areas of research and breadth in examination fields. Full-time students typically complete upwards of 40 credit hours prior to their exams. The courses and credit hours necessary for a doctoral student to prepare for preliminary examinations will be determined by the student s advisory committee. At least six credit hours must be taken in nonEuropean and non-United States history Students must also demonstrate competency in at least two research tools, at least one must consist of a foreign language. No more than 14 credit hours total may be taken as independent study, tutorial, or directed readings courses. Students must complete at least eight credit hours of coursework at SIUC

The cooperative PhD with SIU Carbondale provides students with expertise in historical methodology and research, as well as subject-area expertise within the various fields of history.

Students may concentrate in any of the fields where there is faculty expertise, including, but not limited to:

African History African-American History Ancient History Asian History Atlantic World History Environmental History European History (Ancient-Medieval-RenaissanceEarly Modern-Modern) Latin American History (Colonial-Modern) Middle Eastern History Native American History United States History (Colonial-Antebellum-late 19th Century-20th Century) Urban History

Graduation Requirements

Graduation

The doctoral degree is conferred by Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Students must apply for graduation and pay application fees by the deadline via SalukiNET.

History

Admission Requirements

Graduate School application and $40 fee Submission of all academic transcripts Minimum 3.0 (A=4.0) GPA Successful completion of a bachelor's degree prior to enrollment and preparation in the discipline equivalent to at least an undergraduate minor (18 credit hours in history) International Applicants: Proof of English Proficiency, minimum requirements are TOEFL (79), IELTS (6.5) or equivalent Two letters of recommendation An academic writing sample Statement of Purpose: A one-page letter of intent discussing their preparation for graduate study in history, their area(s) of historical interest and their career goals.

Program application materials may be uploaded during the application process, but official transcripts must be sent directly from the school attended, and test scores must be verifiable with the appropriate testing service. Please contact the Graduate Admissions office with questions regarding the application submission process at graduateadmissions@siue.edu.

Review the SIUE Admissions Policy for more information.

Application Deadline

All application materials are due by February 1 for fall admission and November 1 for spring admission. The Department's graduate program committee will review application materials and make a final determination of admittance normally by March 1 for fall admission and December 1 for spring admission.

Cooperative Doctoral Program

Faculty in the Department of History participate with faculty from the Department of History at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in offering a cooperative program leading to the Doctor of Philosophy in history. Prospective students may initiate application procedures at either campus and may enroll in courses at either or both campuses concurrently. The doctoral degree is conferred by Southern Illinois University Carbondale. For more detailed information, students may contact either department directly.

Click here to review the cooperative doctoral program requirements.

Required Credit Hours/Tuition and Fees

33 Visit the Paying for College website for detailed tuition information

Curriculum

Both thesis and non-thesis plans of study are available. Students pursuing either the thesis or the non-thesis plan must complete a minimum of 33 semester hours. All entering students are required to take a two-semester sequence of History 555 (Graduate Seminar in History and Theory) and History 556 (Graduate Seminar in Historical Research). Students may also apply to participate in an internship program that allows them to obtain practical experience in non-teaching career fields related to history. In addition to the 33 semester hours required, all students must demonstrate a reading knowledge of a foreign language (modern or classical) or complete an appropriate research tool course or courses, chosen in consultation with and approved by the Graduate Program Director. This requirement can be completed through the following options:

passage of an examination showing mastery of translation completion of four semesters of college-level study in a single language with an average of C or better (through coursework or completion exam) completion of a language in translation course with a grade of B or better completion of an appropriate research tool course with a grade of B or better.

Students must earn a grade of B or better in each course counting toward their graduate degree, with the exception of foreign languages. Candidates for the Master of Arts in history may pursue one of the

Thesis Option

Students complete 33 hours of graduate credit, three of which represent the Graduate Core Seminar in History and Theory (HIST 555); three are the Graduate Seminar in Historical Research (HIST 556) and six of which represent a well-conceived thesis on a topic chosen in consultation with a faculty advisory committee. Enrollment in HIST 599 is required. Students will prepare a research plan during the semester or summer immediately preceding their first HIST 599 class. Students will present the research plan to the chair of his or her committee and will then distribute it to the rest of the committee. It is strongly suggested that the entire committee and the student meet together to comment on the plan. Students will not receive an instructor permit to register for HIST 599 until this process is complete.

Exam Option

This plan emphasizes breadth of historical understanding while not ignoring research techniques. Students concentrating in one primary and two complementary secondary areas of emphasis complete 33 hours of graduate credit, which includes completion of the Graduate Core Seminar in History and Theory (HIST 555) (three credit hours) and the Graduate Seminar in Historical Research (HIST 556) (three credit hours). Exam option students also enroll in six credit hours of Readings for Exams (HIST 598).

Suggested areas of emphasis can include:

Ancient History African Diaspora African-American History Asian History Early Modern Europe Gender History Intellectual History Medieval Europe Middle Eastern History Modern Europe U.S. Economic History U.S. since 1877 U.S. to 1877 The broad fields may be modified in consultation with the student's advisory committee. Before embarking on any area(s) of emphasis, a student should consult the appropriate faculty member(s). All exam option students are required to develop a portfolio of two research papers, written for different faculty while enrolled at SIUE, that reflect their primary, and one of their secondary fields of interest. All students are required to submit their portfolio to their examination committee a month before the scheduling of their written exams. In order for written examinations to be scheduled, the portfolio must first be approved by the student's committee.

Degrees Available at SIUE

Master of Arts in History

Master of Science in Integrative Studies - Cultural Heritage and Resources Management Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Historical Studies (Cooperative doctoral program with Southern Illinois University Carbondale)

A secondary education history teaching focus is available with our Master of Science in Education (MSEd) in curriculum and instruction.

Post-Baccalaureate Certi cate

Museum Studies

Graduation Requirements

Students who follow a thesis plan of study will be required to pass an oral defense of the thesis and related historical material and submit a final draft to the Graduate School.

Upon completion of the coursework, students pursuing the exam option must pass a written examination, at least three hours long, covering one principal and two secondary fields. They are also required to pass an oral examination based on their written exams, portfolio and related historical material. The chairperson of the student's advisory committee will provide guidance to the student regarding the nature of the portfolio and examination. Such guidance will include a list of readings compiled by the advisory committee, which, in conjunction with the student's coursework, will